A Chinese wind power firm has apparently fallen victim to a scam that traded on the University of Oxford’s name to sell fake awards to companies, according to media reports.

State-run Longyuan Power Group allegedly paid for the made-up award of “Best Enterprise” in 2011 from the Europe Business Assembly, which claimed it could provide “recognition from Oxford”, the official Beijing Youth Daily reported on Wednesday.

It is accused of targeting companies in developing countries to apply for fake awards such as “The International Socrates Award” and “The Queen Victoria Commemorative Award” for up to £9,300 (US$12,100) each, according to The Times report.

“Award winners” also get access to “exclusive Oxford University lectures”, the EBA says in its advertisements, which use images of Oxford colleges, the report said.

Awards were handed out at ceremonies in hired venues including Oxford Town Hall, the report said.

Companies in developing countries were approached by the EBA via mass emails or cold-calls, former staff told The Times. The firms were told they had been nominated for a prize, then later asked to pay for an award package that included fees for the ceremony and accommodation.